What a wonderful, bittersweet and introspective novel… It's about love, it's about grief, it's about aging, and for me, every page had a deep emotional resonance, without kitsch or forced sentimentality. In my eyes, «Baumgartner» is a more than worthy finale to Paul Auster's great work.

We follow the thoughts of 71-year-old philosophy professor Seymour 'Sy' Baumgartner, who reflects quietly on the past and present, with a pinch of self-irony and a constant undertone of quiet yearning. His great love Anna drowned a decade ago and he has never recovered from this loss, yet he cautiously feels his way towards a possible late happiness.

The novel employs a non-linear structure, seamlessly shifting between different phases of Sy's life. This feels very 'organic' to me: not contrived, not invented, but born from lived experience. The narrative focuses on internal rather than external conflict, with tension and suspense arising from Sy's emotions and his search for meaning.

Auster's writing style is elegant and poetic; he interweaves the novel's themes in a quiet, introspective tone. He succeeds in conveying a vivid impression of Sy's inner world, a harbor of memories and philosophical musings.

My conclusion:

Readers who appreciate character-driven, introspective novels and are interested in a philosophical exploration of life's complexities will likely enjoy «Baumgartner» as well. I loved the novel and it will no doubt stay with me for a long time. The world has lost a great writer in Paul Auster.

I've read the book and then listened to the unabridged audiobook, narrated by Paul Auster himself. Oh, what a tender, bittersweet experience… I highly recommend it, even if you have already the novel, his voice adds another level of depth to the story.